The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-24
From, the Atlanta tGa) Constitution.


Convict Who Discusses Sundry Mat
tiers.
From the atlanta (Ga) Constitution.
DIR. Willis Westmoreland, the principal
physician to the penitentiary, has a very
extensive correspondence, but it is doubtful
if that excellent surgeon ever receceived as
remarkable document as the letter from
~. w. Livingstone" a convict on the At
lanta and Hawkinsville road, of the date of
Nov 9, 1887.
Livingstone is rather an old man, white,
and is, perhaps, past so years of age. He
was sent from Muscogee county for bur
glary, and has been in the penitentiary
few years. His term is not a long one, AS
sistant Keeper Shubrick remarking yester-
day that he did not think it extended over
a longer period than six or seven years.
Very little is known of the history of Liv
| ingstone, or of the causes that led him to
violate the law and get in his present en-
tanglement, but it is believed that he is an
old sailor as he shows striking familiarity
with all matters pertaining TO sailing YES
sells, and has many Of the characteristics
that belong to those who have spent years
before the mast.
Not long since Livingstone addressed to
the department presided over by Col. Tow
ers and Col. Shubrick a poetical romance,
in which the fictitious Flying Dutchman"
played very important part. The com
position was not without merit, and while
it was very crude, it showed unmistakable
signs of genius, and gave additional theory
that its author was once a seafaring man.
Assistant Keeper Shubrick has the romance
| in his possession, and intends making an
effort to dispose of it to some paper for the
benefit of the convict. As a matter of
course, if it is bought it will be upon the
idea that it is a curiosity rather than a
finished production.
But the letter first alluded to.
1t is dated Camp Ethiopia, near Means
vile, Ga" and is addressed to Or Willis
Westmoreland, Atlanta, Ga. who is saluted
as Dear Sir" The author begins by saying;
AS a broken ankle and naked foot, with other
| circumstances beyond my control, prevent me
| from making prigrimages beyond the confines
| of this unique geological collection, / am forced
| to appear before you in this guse in order to
| get a hearing.
Spencer Darwin and Huxley tell us that en-
| bryonic man, for two or three months after con
| ception, is so nearly in appearance allied to
mules, asses, hogs, dogs, and various Other YER
| tebrates in the same stage of existence, as to
| defy an expert naturalist to tell which from
| "tother." These scientists also inform us that
at period further on in existence, embryonic
| man sports a hairy robe from the SoleS of his
| feet to the crown of his head, including
| whiskers, covering all the territory lying be
|
| column is adorned with a tail. which dwarfs his
| legs when their length is compared. He then
| surprises the beholderS by projecting his hands
| and feet sideways like those Of a baboou.
on these embryonic eccentricltieS naturalists
| have based a theory that man is an evolution
| from the lower animals To demonstrate man
| the outcome of the animal kingdom, they. III
| certain stages or embryonic existence, compare
| him with all his ancestors in the same stage
| and triumphantly eXclaim; What is it? A
| goat, q kangaroo, or a hog?"
| If man is really an evolution from the lower
animals, such as the goat and the hog, why
| should he not inherit many of their attributes'
| | have never heard of a naturalist whQssustains
such theory, still it is plausible, and doubt
| not that many of them secretly sustain il. / do
| not know whether DR. Sims is a proselyte to the
| evolution theory or not, but his actions lately
| have caused me to suspect that he Is, and that
| he labors under the idea that some men inherit
| the peculiarities OF the beast from which they
| are descended.
1mbued with The idea that he detects in me
| the attributes" if not the confguration of a
| hog, Ito discover whether or no, / am a
| lineal descendant from the unCult species, ]
| have made investigation of my countenance
| through the medium of n mirror, and as can
| not detect sufficient testimony in my features to
base the hog theory upon) and as my hoofs are
| not encased In the natural shoes of hog,
most respectfully appeal TO you for the purpose
| of begging you to endeavor TO eradicate such
| ngodly theories from his mind From the
moment my ankle was broken last spring up to
! date my injured foot has been as naked as it
| was when was born have repeatedly asked
him to get me something that can wear on it,
but it has amounted TO just nothing. am
forced to wade through mud and rain when
| obliged to go out in bad weather. My foot is
still far from we'll and will never be with such
| treatment Will you kindly use your influence
| 10 force him to cover my foot. cannot wear con-
| vict shoes on it. II swells continually and pains
me greatly at times. Would you please advise
me what to do for it. Capt. James is in no wise
responsible for its condition DR.. Sims, thou
| art the man. Very respectfully,
| j. w. LIVINGSTONE.
The DR.. Sims alluded to is the physician
at "Camp Ethiopia" and ii is apparent
that there is very decided conflict Of opn-
ion between physician and patient in regard
to the treatment of the wounded limb. 1t
seems the doctor thinks it best that the foot
should not be covered. and the convict tax
ing issue with rim, appeals to higher au-
thority. Dr. Westmoreland was at the
camp not long since, but it is not known
whether he covered the foot or not
The letter is written in a neat hand, the
photography and grammar as a rule good.
| Whatever the convict may have beeu, it is
evident that he has some education far
above that of the men who are his present
companions, and in some way or other has
gained q smattering of science that he uses
with some effect, though with not absolute
accuracy.
Livingstone is entitled to the reputation
attached TO the best informed convict in
Camp Ethiopia" 1t is rumored that he
will prepare in his leisure hours aserial
story in which convict life and treatment
will play a very important part In the
| meanwhile his illusions are collecting i'll the
penitentiary department
''Close the door gently,
| And bride the breath